Weight lifting machine



June 21, 1966 E. c. MARTIN 3,257,111

WEIGHT LIFTING MACHINE Filed Feb. :5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 es W A TTORNEYS June 21, 1966 E. CJMARTIN 3,257,111

WEIGHT LIFTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 16 I4 I7 LQPW) FIGG INVENTOR.

ERBERT C. MARTIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,257,111 WEIGHT LIFTING MACHINE Erbert C. Martin, 220 Camp St., New Orleans, La.

Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 341,864

8 Claims. (Cl. 27281) This invention relates to exercising devices and more particularly to a weight lifting machine.

It is known that weight lifting is one of the most efl'lcient forms of exercise; however, available weight lifting devices permit performance of only the simplest type of basic exercises in'the absence of a high degree of dexterity and physical fitness.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a weight lifting machine that may be easily used to perform all basic exercises and all major variations on basic exercises.

Another object is to provide a weight lifting machine that may be operated with a wide range of different weights.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from the accompanying drawings which disclose one embodiment of the invention. It is to be expressly understood however that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for the latter purpose being had to the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters 3 denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a weight lifting machine constructed in accordance with the principles.

of the present invention;

FIGURE 2'is a three-dimensional view of a part of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken alongthe line 55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6'is a detailed three-dimensional view of a feature of the present invention.

With reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a weight.

lifting machine embodying the .principles of the present invention is shown therein including a horizontal weight lift bar 10 connected at its left-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, to alift bar guide and weight supporting unit 11 and connected at its right-hand end, as viewed in the drawing, to a lift bar guide and weight supporting unit 12. The supporting units 11 and 12 are of similar construction and the ensuing description of the supporting unit 11, with reference to the remaining figures of the drawings, is also a description of the supporting unit 12; in FIGURE 1, corresponding elements of the supporting units 11 and 12 are designated by similar reference characters with the reference characters for the elements of the supporting unit 12 being primed.

As shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4, and 5, the left-hand end of the weight lift bar 10 is connected to a vertically disposed downwardly depending weight supporting member 13 and transverse connecting members 14 and 15 lying in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the bar 10; Sleeves 16 and. 17 are joined to the ends of the transverse connecting members and the sleeves are slidably mounted on vertically disposed guide members 18 and 19, respectively. It is preferable that the vertical guide members 18 and 19 lie in a common plane with the weight supporting member 13 although other arrangements may be employed. The vertical guide members 18 and 19 may be of circular cross section and their respective sleeves 16 and 17 may be provided with cylindrical bores for snug slidable engagement therewith. It is to be understood,

I 3,257,111 Patented June 21, 1966 of course, that the guide members may be of different cross-sectional shape in which case the sleeves would have openings of corresponding shape. A frame structure for supporting the vertical guide members 18 and 19 includes two pairs of upstanding members 20, 21 and 22, 23 joined together by upper members 24 and 25, respectively, and by lower members 26 and 27, respectively. An upper guide member support 28 is connected between the members 24 and 25 and a lower guide member support 29 is connected between the members 26 and 27. The vertical guide members 18 and 19 extend between the upper and lower' guide member supports 28 and 29 with the lower ends of the guide members being rigidly secured to the lower guide member support 29 and with the upper ends of the guide members being secured to the upper guide member support 28, preferably in such a manner as to permit limited lateral movement of the upper ends of the guide members relative to the support 28. The latter construction may be achieved by providing a pin projecting upwardly from the upper ends of the guide members and extending through an opening in the upper support 28 of a diameter slightly greater than the outline area of the pin. The upstanding members 20, 21, 22, and 23 may extend downwardly below the lower guide member support 26 to provide legs for the structure spacing the lower guide member support 26 from the floor. The frame structures for the supporting uni-ts 11 and 12 are connected by a member 30 lying generally parallel to the weight lift bar 10.

The weight lifting machine includes sets of weights 40 and 41 associated with the supporting units 11 and 12, respectively, and the sets of weights include a plurality of weight elements 42 and 43, respectively. The weight elements are adapted to be selectively secured to the ends of the weight lift bar 10 and are formed of material of high density, such as lead. Each weight element is provided with a central opening 45 and end openings 46 and 47. The central opening 45 is of a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of. the weight supporting member 13 and the end openings 46 and 47 are of a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the vertical guide members 18 and 19; however, the openings 45, 46 and 47 are slightly oversize with respect to the supporting member 13 and the guide members 18 and 19, respectively. The end openings 46 and 47 are located relative to the central opening 45 similar to the relationship between the weight supporting member 13 and the guide members 18 and 19 so that the weight elements may be positioned with the guide members 18 and 19 passing through the end openings 46 and 47, respectively, and the weight supporting member 13 passing through the central opening 45 as shown in the drawings. The weight elements 42 of the set 40 are stacked one on top of the other substantially throughout the vertical dimension of the weight supporting member 13. The lowermost weight element of the set 40 rests upon enlarged end portions 48 and 49 of the vertical guide members 18 and 19, respectively, to position the lowermost weight element above the lower guide member support 29. The weight elements are preferably constructed to nest snugly one on top of the other, as shown in the drawings, preferably with minimum thickness to decrease the maximum height of the set of weights. Of course, the size of each weight element will depend upon the density of the material forming the weight element and the desired total mass of the weight element.

The arrangement for selectively securing one or more weight elements to the weight supporting members 13 includes the provision of a series of vertically spaced openings 50 formed in the weight supporting member 13 which extends throughout the height of the sets of weights. The vertical distance between adjacent openings 50 substantially corresponds to the depth of each weight element so that the openings 50 are in vertical alignment with the space between adjacent weight elements. The weight elements are provided with transverse notches 51 in their upper and lower surfaces in alignment with the vertical plane of the openings 50. The notch 51 in the lower surface of one weight element and the notch 51 in the upper surface of an adjacent weight element thus define a passageway between the adjacent weight elements and extending throughout the width of the weight elements in alignment with an opening 50 in the weight supporting member 13. A steel pin may be inserted between any pair of weight elements, or beneath the lowermost weight element, and through an opening 50 in the weight supporting member 13 to load the Weight supporting member with a mass equal to the combined mass of the total number of weight elements located above the.

.pin. In FIGURE 4 of the drawings, a pin 5'5 is shown inserted through the opening 50 of the weight supporting member 13 located beneath the second weight element of the set and, in FIGURE 6, the relationship of the openings 51?, the transverse notches 51 and the pin 55 is shown in greater detail. It will therefore be appreciated that the particular opening in the weight supporting member 13 through which the pin is inserted determines the number of weight elements connected to the weight supporting member. For example, if the pin 55 is inserted through the uppermost opening in the weight supporting member, only one weight element (the uppermost weight element) would be attached to the weight supporting member whereas, if the pin is inserted in the lowermost opening, all weight elements of the set of weights would be attached to the weight supporting member. Thus, any number of weight supporting elements of the set 40 may be attached to the weight supporting member by selectively inserting the pin through the proper opening 50' in the weight supporting member. When the apparatus is in its normal position as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, with the weight elements of both sets of weights being supported by the enlarged end portions 48 and 49 of the guide members, the openings between adjacent weight elements formed by the notches 51 will align with an opening 50 in the weight supporting member and a pin 55, which is preferably slightly undersize relative to the openings 50, may be easily inserted through any one of the openings 50 to permit selective addition of weight elements to the weight supporting member without requiring manipulation of the weight elements. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that, when the pin 55 is inserted in an opening 50 of each of the weight supporting members, the force required to lift the weight lift bar 10 upwardly will be equal to the combined mass of the weight elements located above the pins.

It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a machine in which upward movement of the weight lift bar It) is resisted almost entirely by the mass of the weight elements attached to the weight supporting members and the mass of portions of the machine connected to the weight lift bar. The invention provides a number of coacting features which reduces to a minimum resistance to upward movement of the bar 10 due to friction between relatively movable surfaces and prevents jamming of the mechanism. These features include the provision of the central opening 45 and the end openings 46 and 47 in the weight elements of a size greater than the outline area of the weight supporting member 13, the guide members 18 and'l9, respectively, as shown particularly in FIGURE 6, the feature of the sleeves 16 and 17 slidably mounted on respectively guide members 18 and 19, and the feature of attaching the upper ends of the guide members in such a manner as to permit limited lateral movement relative to the support 28. The sleeves 16 and 17 are lubricated to reduce friction and may be provided with suitably impregnated liners for that purpose.

In assembling the device, or when a set of weight elements of different mass are desired to be employed, the upper guide member supports 28 are removed as well as the weight lift bar and attached elements. Thereupon, the weight elements are assembled with the guide members passing through the outer openings. After a complete set of weights is assembled, the sleeves are inserted over respective guide members and the weight supporting member passes through the central openings of the weight elements, the lower ends of the sleeves resting upon the upper surface of the uppermost weight element as in the normal position. Thereupon, the upper guide member supports are attached and the upper ends of the guide members secured thereto in the manner described above.

The vertical guide members 18 and 19 are of a height to permit upward movement of the weight lift bar 10 from its normal position shown in FIGURE 2 to any maximum height as may be desired for performing weight lifting exercises.

In operation, after a selected number of weight elements are attached to the weight supporting members in the manner described above, an individual 'may operate upon the weight lift bar 10 in a conventional manner to perform all basic exercises as well as the major variations thereof. The weight lift bar 10 in its normal position is at a height above the ground to permit operation of exercises from a standing position of an individual of maximum anticipated height and, for individuals of less height, a platform of the required height may be positioned beneath the Weight lift bar 19 between the units 11 and 12. When it is desired to perform exercises from a non-standing position, platforms of greater height may be positioned beneath the weight lift 'bar 11 from which the exercises may be performed. Platforms having an upper surface that is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the weight lift bar and downwardly therefrom have particular usefulness in combination with the exercising apparatus provided by the present invention.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described herein, it is to be expressly understood that various changes and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as well understood by those skilled in the art. For example, the weight lift bar 10 may be provided with end extensions 6% on which a weight 61 or a plurality of weights may be supported as shown in FIGURE 4. Such weights may be of a mass less than the mass of the weight elements of the sets of weights. Reference therefore will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising machine comprising a horizontal weight lift bar,

a first vertically disposed weight carrying member secured to the lift bar adjacent a first end of the lift bar,

a second vertically disposed weight carrying member secured to the lift bar adjacent a second end of the lift bar,

the first and second weight carrying members depending downwardly from the lift bar,

first transverse rigid connector means joined to the lift bar adjacent the first end of the lift bar,

second transverse rigid connector means joined to the lift bar adjacent the second end of the lift bar,

a first pair of vertically disposed guide members located in the region of the first end of the lift bar,

a second pair of vertically disposed guide members located in the region of the second end of the lift bar,

a sleeve slidably mounted on each guide member of the first pair and second pair of guide members,

the guide members of the first pair of guide members being spaced from the first weight carrying member and the guide members of the second pair of guide members being spaced from the second weight carrying member,

means connecting the first transverse rigid connectormeans to the sleeves slidably mounted on the first pair of guide members,

means connecting the second transverse rigid connector means to the sleeves slidably mounted on the second pair of guide members,

a first set of Weight elements located at the first end of the lift bar,

a second set of weigh-t elements located at the second end of the lift bar,

the weight elements of each set being stacked one on top of the other and having openings receiving respective weight carrying members and respective guide members,

a structure for supporting the first pair and the second pair of vertical guide members, and

means for attaching one weight element of the first set of weight elements to the first weight carrying member and for attaching one weight element of the second set of weight elements to the second weight carrying member so that the attached weight element of each set and all weight elements of each set stacked above the attached weight element move upwardly with the weight carrying members upon upward movement of the lift bar along a path defined by the first and second pairs of vertical guide members.

2. An exercising machine as defined in claim 1 in which the guide members of the first pair of guide members are located on opposite sides of the first weight carrying member and lie in a common plane with the first weight carrying member perpendicular to the lift bar and in which the guide members of the second pair of guide members are located on opposite sides of the second weight carrying member and lie in a common plane with the second weight carrying member perpendicular to the lift bar.

3. An exercising machine as defined in claim 2 in which the weight carrying members are provided with a series of vertically spaced openings adapted to receive a pin to support weight elements located above the pin.

4. An exercising machine as defined in claim 3 in which the vertically spaced openings are spaced a distance corresponding substantially to the vertical dimension of the weight elements.

5. An exercising device as defined in claim 4 in which the surfaces of the weight elements are provided with means forming passageways in alignment with the vertically spaced openings.

6. An exercising machine as defined in claim 5 including stop means for spacing the sets of weights above the lower ends of the first and second pairs of guide members.

7. An exercising machine as defined in claim 1 in which the openings in the weight elements receiving the weight carrying member and the guide members are larger than the cross-sectional outline of the weight carrying member and the guide members.

8. An exercising machine as defined in claim 7 in which the upper ends of the pair of guide members are supported for limited lateral movement relative to the guide member supporting structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,116,062 12/1963 Zinkin 272-81 X 3,189,347 6/1965 Dodge 27281 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EXERCISING MACHINE COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY WEIGHT LIFT BAR, A FIRST VERTICALLY DISPOSED WEIGHT CARRYING MEMBER SECURED TO THE LIFT BAR ADJACENT A FIRST END OF THE LIFT BAR, A SECOND VERTICALLY DISPOSED WEIGHT CARRYING MEMBER SECURED TO THE LIFT BAR ADJACENT A SECOND END OF THE LIFT BAR, THE FIRST AND SECOND WEIGHT CARRYING MEMBERS DEPENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE LIFT BAR, FIRST TRANSVERSE RIGID CONNECTOR MEANS JOINED TO THE LIFT BAR ADJACENT THE FIRST END OF THE LIFT BAR, SECOND TRANSVERSE RIGID CONNECTOR MEANS JOINED TO THE LIFT BAR ADJACENT THE SECOND END OF THE LIFT BAR, A FIRST PAIR OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED GUIDE MEMBERS LOCATED IN THE REGION OF THE FIRST END OF THE LIFT BAR, A SECOND PAIR OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED GUIDE MEMBERS LOCATED IN THE REGION OF THE SECOND END OF THE LIFT BAR, A SLEEVE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON EACH GUIDE MEMBER OF THE FIRST PAIR AND SECOND PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS, THE GUIDE MEMBERS OF THE FIRST PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS BEING SPACED FROM THE FIRST WEIGHT CARRYING MEMBER AND THE GUIDE MEMBERS OF THE SECOND PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS BEING SPACED FROM THE SECOND WEIGHT CARRYING MEMBER, MEANS CONNECTING THE FIRST TRANSVERSE RIGID CONNECTOR MEANS TO THE SLEEVES SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE FIRST PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS, 